A doctor steps back from his practice when a relative develops dementia. Upon return, nurses and patients notice troubling symptoms.
« Login For Audio »
Ideal Family Physician
From morning to night, patients stream into the office of Dr. Robert Clancy, drawn to his vitality. He lifts children for welcoming hugs and raises the outlook for patients with grim diagnoses. During the few breaks throughout the day, nurses observe him dancing down the small-town clinic hallways for exercise.
A day of hugs and smiles suddenly turns into one of anguish and uncertainty. Dr. Clancy, reacting to his pager between patient examinations, learns that paramedics responded to his mother lying in the street.
“Has she been hit by a car?” he asks the emergency room nurse. “Is she all right?”
“Her vitals are fine, but you should come down immediately. She’s very disoriented.”
Dr. Clancy’s hand trembles as he ends the call. He leans against the wall, closing his eyes to steady his racing thoughts. His heart pounds while sprinting through the clinic corridors, his mind a torrent of negative outcomes.
Neighbors found Mary Clancy wandering lost in the streets several times. According to tests, she is developing dementia. With short-term memory loss and mood swings, remaining by herself could lead to harm.
Dr. Clancy modifies her diet and gets her on a regimen of prescriptions to slow the disease’s progress. While she still recalls who her son is, he moves Mary into his home and spends as much time as possible with her, creating long-term memories even if she can’t remember.
When patients learn that their beloved physician has taken a leave of absence, they become figuratively brokenhearted. However, knowing he’s tending to his aging mother’s health, they feel better about their hero.
Shaky Return
After several months Dr. Clancy returns. Both the office staff and patients are ecstatic. However, they soon notice behavioral changes. He no longer dances in the hallways, children miss their lifts and hugs, and he winces in pain during handshakes. Longtime patients frown when Dr. Clancy can’t recall their names or important health details. It seems like the person they were expecting hasn’t returned.
Registered nurse Emily Foster, assists with a female patient’s care during a medical consultation. The doctor asks Emily to administer a dosage of 10 centiliters—ten times the norm. Aware of common medical doses, she tactfully confirms, “Is that… 10 cc?” (Which is cubic centimeters, or milliliters.)
He pauses before saying, “Yes, that’s correct.”
Staff Intervention
During an outdoor patio lunch break, the nurses share their concerns. “What do you think is wrong, Emily? Could he have dementia?”
“Hang on, let me send this text…. Where were we? Oh, dementia sometimes runs in families. I can’t say for sure, but one of us should say something.”
They appoint Emily as their spokesperson. She later has a patient wait longer than usual to have a private conversation in an exam room.
“Dr. Clancy, we are so happy to have you back. However, there is growing concern among patients and staff that you’re not quite yourself. Are you feeling all right?”
While grasping his forehead in frustration with a contradictory smile, he says, “I’ve just been feeling a bit tired. I guess we all slow down with age.”
“I think it’s more than that. As a suggestion, perhaps you can consult with another physician who you trust.”
“All right. Thanks. Now, I have a patient to see,” he responds tersely to the uncomfortable interaction. “Help me with the name? Emily, are you texting?”
As he turns, his hand knocks a jar of tongue depressors to the floor. The loud crash of the glass shattering echoes through the room, and for a moment, they both freeze.
Dr. Clancy’s face flushes with embarrassment and frustration. “That was an accident. Get this cleaned up, please.”
Emily, startled, quickly responds, “I’m sorry for texting, Doctor. Mr. Leonard is next. I’ll prep the room.”
The conversation makes Dr. Clancy more conscious of his behavior. Throughout the day, his mind magnifies every small mistake, knotting his stomach with anxiety. So he arranges a checkup with a colleague named Dr. Sarah Thompson.
During an informal evening phone call, he asks, “Hey Sarah, how’s everything?”
“Trying to be as active as you. How’s your mom?”
“Stable as possible. But I’m wondering about early-onset dementia. I’ve had memory lapses. Could you fit me for a workup?”
“Sure, text me when you’re coming this Tuesday or Thursday.”
On Tuesday, Dr. Clancy visits for bloodwork and brain scans, forgetting to alert Nurse Foster of his absence. She contacts him with subdued panic. “Dr. Clancy, the waiting room is filling up. When will you be in?”
“Oh, I meant to tell you, I won’t be in till this afternoon. Please reschedule my morning appointments, and the same for this Thursday.”
On Thursday, Dr. Thompson shares the lab results. “Do any of your patients like choosing between good news and bad?”
“That’s always a bad intro.”
“The good news is there’s nothing neurologically wrong.”
“Give me the bad news.”
“You have a nutritional deficiency severe enough to affect cognitive and physical behavior. A B12 shot and high doses of vitamin D should help. These deficiencies can mimic symptoms of dementia.”
“Malnutrition? I should’ve recognized it.”
“Doctors make the worst patients. I’ll check your levels every two months until you get back in the normal range.”
“Will do. Thanks, Sarah.”
A Recovery
Over the following months, Dr. Clancy’s strength and mental acuity gradually return to normal. He recalls patient’s names and resumes dancing in the hallways. Both staff and patients feel that they have their doctor back. During a quiet time between patient visits, he feels comfortable sharing with Nurse Foster the secret to his recovery.
“I was worried about developing dementia like my mother. Malnutrition knocked me off my game. It feels good to be my old self again.”
Nurse Foster reveals the reasons for her distractions. “That’s great. If I’d known sooner, I would have been texting less on the job. I thought my mother had Alzheimer’s Disease, but it turns out she needs vitamin D.”
With his familiar characteristic comfort, he replies, “Once we get the word dementia in our heads, we tend to view other symptoms through the same lens. I’m happy things are working out for her. Small studies suggest a correlation between vitamin D and improvements in obesity or cholesterol levels. Keep an eye on those numbers.”
Dr. Clancy often thinks about his journey, realizing that, just like his patients, he should focus on his nutrition and well-being. He continues caring for his mother, after his temporary cognitive decline, with greater empathy during caregiving.
The End
Return twice weekly for miniseries. Any relation to actual persons or events is coincidental. Login provides the most immersive experience. About 1200 total words.
